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The Ossington Circle Videos

Submitted by Justin Podur
on Wed, 06/26/2013 - 10:44

The Ossington Circle is a political talk show hosted by Justin Podur. We bring you a thoughtful, progressive, and informed take on events in the world. Started out as a YouTube show, now it's a podcast. RSS Feed for the podcast:

Below is all the video content - from the Ossington Circle internet talk show, as well as lectures and mini-docs. For audio, see the podcast links.

October 10, 2015: The Tar Sands should stay in the ground

A lecture sponsored by the Stop Line 9 Coalition. The main speaker was Andrew Nikoforuk. This lecture is mainly about why we have the confidence we do in the atmospheric science on anthropogenic climate change.

August 7, 2014: The Gaza Ceasefire with Dan Freeman-Maloy

The Ossington Circle is an internet talk show hosted by Justin Podur in Toronto. In this episode, recorded during the 72-hour ceasefire at the end of a month of Israel attacking Gaza in 2014, Freeman-Maloy talks about the ceasefire, the long history of Israel's decades-long, disciplined destruction of Gaza and of Palestinian society, the ironclad Western support for Israel, and what people of conscience in the West can do about it.

August 1, 2014: Taking Action on Gaza

On August 1, 2014, three weeks into Israel's assault on Gaza, people everywhere were holding fundraisers for medical aid and events to try to understand and figure out how to take action to stop the attack. This talk, given at one such event, describes the direction of Israel's - and the West's - politics on Gaza and Palestine more generally. It is a terrifying direction, a critical moment, and one that will not resolve itself. The West must set limits for Israel, and will only do that if people take action.

February 21, 2014: Gaza in Crisis with Eva Bartlett

The Ossington Circle is an internet talk show hosted by Justin Podur in Toronto. In this episode, I talk to Eva Bartlett, who has spent a good portion of the past few years in Gaza. She talks about the tunnels, agriculture, fishery, all of the impacts of Israel's comprehensive siege against the Palestinian population of 1.7 million people. See her on speaking tour in February and March of 2014.

December 29, 2013: The Therapy Industry with Paul Moloney

The Ossington Circle is an internet talk show hosted by Justin Podur in Toronto. This episode has Paul Moloney, the author of the book The Therapy Industry: the irresistible rise of the talking cure and why it doesn't work (Pluto Press 2013). In the book, Paul questions the idea that many of our problems can be resolved through talk, and advocates what he calls social-materialist psychology, a psychology that sees social relations and the external world as the most important determinants of mental health. Whether you're helping others as a teacher or in the community, or looking for answers in your own life, you'll find Paul's book, and this interview, solidly argued, surprising, and worthwhile.

October 28, 2013: Afghanistan Perils and Possibilities

On October 28, 2013, Justin Podur gave a lecture for the Toronto Public Library's "Thought Exchange" series titled "Afghanistan: Perils and Possibilities". The lecture was based on his trip to Kabul in March 2013 and his chapter in the 2013 University of Toronto Press book, "Empire's Ally: Canada and the War in Afghanistan". Before the lecture, Podur screened his short documentary, "Waiting for 2014 in Afghanistan", which he refers to at the beginning of the lecture.

August 4, 2013: Architecture, Occupation, and Resistance with Suzy Harris-Brandts

The Ossington Circle is an internet talk show hosted by Justin Podur in Toronto. This week we have architectural researcher Suzy Harris-Brandts, who studied and worked with the Decolonizing Architecture group in the West Bank. We discuss the limitations of negotiations, design tactics under occupation, and the responsibility of architects. For an article by Suzy Harris-Brandts, see: http://arenaofspeculation.org/2013/01/21/political-agency-of-residual-landscapes/

July 25, 2013: The future of India's conflict zones: a lecture

The world's largest democracy currently has several zones under some kind of low-intensity, protracted conflict. What is behind these seemingly intractable problems? Who is benefiting from them, how might they be solved, and how might friends of India help? Justin Podur spent January-April 2013 based in Delhi, from where he visited Kabul, Srinagar, and Chhattisgarh, studying the conflicts of the region. On July 25, 2013, at Hart House, at the University of Toronto, Podur presented some background notes and observations on the indigenous (adivasi) struggle in Central India and the Kashmir conflict. Justin Podur teaches at York University's Faculty of Environmental Studies. He was a visiting professor at Delhi's Jamia Millia Islamia in the winter term 2013. Previously, in 2008, he taught in Pakistan, at the International Islamic University-Islamabad.

July 14, 2013: A Generation long Civil War with Jon Elmer

The Ossington Circle is an internet talk show hosted by Justin Podur in Toronto. This week we have Middle East journalist Jon Elmer, and we discuss the Egyptian Revolution, the Syrian Civil War, and the great powers and their designs in the middle east.

July 4, 2013: Austerity & Resistance with John Clarke

A new internet talk show begins! The Ossington Circle is hosted by Justin Podur in Toronto. A news and politics show, tOC will have fascinating guests discussing international (and local) politics from a thoughtful, informed, and progressive perspective. This week we have John Clarke from the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty (OCAP), and range over everything from the Rob Ford crack scandal to how best to face the "austerity agenda".

June 24, 2013: Waiting for 2014 in Afghanistan

An 11-minute mini-documentary about Afghanistan's perils and prospects. Filmed in Kabul, Afghanistan in March 2013. Features Members of Parliament Ramazon Bashardost and Shukria Barackzai.

June 12, 2013: India - The Struggle for Indigenous Autonomy

A mini-documentary based on a March 9/13 interview with Adivasi Mahasabha General Secretary Manish Kunjam. Conducted in Dantewada in the middle of a march for tribal autonomy.

November 13, 2012: Haiti's New Dictatorship Montreal Book Launch

Justin Podur, author of Haiti's New Dictatorship (Pluto Press 2012, BTL Books and Palgrave-Macmillan co-publishers) discusses Haiti and the book at Concordia University in Montreal on November 13, 2012

February 11, 2010: Haiti, the Mobilization of Aid, Public Discourses and Political Action by Manuel Rozental

On February 11, YCISS at York University held a panel on Haiti. “Haiti: The Mobilization of Aid, Public Discourses and Political Action within Canada” examined how the mobilization of aid is occurring through the media, diasporas, non-governmental organizations, the military – particularly the Canadian Forces – and other government institutions, and to what effect. The speakers included * Manuel Rozental of the University of Toronto and a coordinator for the Canada-Colombia Solidarity Campaign; * History Professor Melanie Newton of the University of Toronto; * Professor Nalini Persram of York’s Department of Social Science, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies. The following is Manuel Rozental's talk from the YCISS panel.

February 2, 2010: Relief, Occupations and the Haiti Crisis by Justin Podur

On January 12, Haiti was hit with an earthquake 7.0 on the Richter scale, leaving possibly 200,000 dead and 3 million affected. Much of Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital, is now living in makeshift camps with their water, food, and health at risk. While many countries around the world responded with aid, the US and Canada also quickly deployed troops. This talk will discuss current events and press coverage in the context of the past decade of Western policy towards Haiti, as well as the prospects for constructive relief and solidarity work. Justin Podur visited Haiti in 2005 to study the UN occupation and the government after the 2004 coup. This is a recording of a public event that took place in Toronto on February 2, 2010 at the Centre for Social Justice.

February 2, 2010: Relief, Occupations and the Haiti Crisis by Dan Freeman-Maloy

On January 12, Haiti was hit with an earthquake 7.0 on the Richter scale, leaving possibly 200,000 dead and 3 million affected. Much of Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital, is now living in makeshift camps with their water, food, and health at risk. While many countries around the world responded with aid, the US and Canada also quickly deployed troops. This talk will discuss current events and press coverage in the context of the past decade of Western policy towards Haiti, as well as the prospects for constructive relief and solidarity work. Dan Freeman-Maloy is a Toronto-based activist and writer. He studied Canadian media coverage of the 2004 Haiti coup and has written for ZNet and other publications. *Early in the video, Dan refers to "hurricanes" when he means "earthquakes" and "earthquakes" when he means "hurricanes".